Pertinent (adjective) describes something that is directly relevant or applicable to the matter being considered; to the point. It is often used in the phrase "a pertinent question" or "pertinent information".
Example: "She raised a pertinent question about the budget."
What Does Pertinent Mean?
The word pertinent comes from the Latin pertinere, meaning "to relate to" or "to belong to" — the same root that gives us pertain. The underlying idea is connection: a pertinent remark belongs to the topic and clearly relates to it, rather than wandering off into something else.
In modern English, pertinent is a formal, high-value adjective used to show that a point, question, or piece of information has a direct bearing on the subject under discussion. It does more than say something is merely "about" a topic; it implies that the point is sharply and usefully relevant. You will often see it in the phrases "a pertinent question" and "pertinent information", which appear constantly in reports, legal documents, and academic essays.
Key point: pertinent is neutral, with a slightly approving edge. Calling a question pertinent suggests it is well-judged because it goes straight to the heart of the matter. This makes it especially useful in professional and academic writing, where staying on point is prized.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level / Note |
|---|---|
| She asked a pertinent question that nobody had thought of. | B2 — meetings / neutral register |
| Please attach any pertinent documents to your application. | B2 — formal / administrative register |
| The lawyer set out only the facts that were pertinent to the case. | C1 — legal / formal register |
| His comments, though brief, were highly pertinent to the debate. | C1 — academic / formal register |
| The findings remain pertinent decades after they were first published. | C1 — analytical / literary register |
Word Family
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- relevant — connected to the matter
- applicable — able to be applied
- apposite — strikingly suitable
- germane — closely connected
- material — important to the case
Antonyms
- irrelevant — not connected to the matter
- immaterial — not important to the case
- inappropriate — not suitable
- unrelated — having no connection
- extraneous — outside the subject
Common Collocations
- a pertinent question — "He raised a pertinent question about cost."
- pertinent information — "Please provide all pertinent information."
- pertinent details — "She noted the pertinent details in the margin."
- highly pertinent — "The remark was highly pertinent."
- particularly pertinent — "This point is particularly pertinent today."
- pertinent to — "Only evidence pertinent to the charge was heard."
Related Words
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